Lone fathers lose out at work

Becoming a lone father can damage work prospects, according to research by lone-parent group Gingerbread.

The study, based on 115 lone fathers, found a significant number of lone fathers were forced to leave work as they were unable to balance work and caring for their children.

Eighty-six per cent of fathers in the study were in work before becoming a lone father, but this fell to 63% afterwards.

The majority said that the reason for leaving paid employment was an inability to balance work and childcare.

The fathers in the survey were also more likely to work part time (16%) than men in general (in 1999 8% of all men were part timers). And more than a quarter of fathers who remained in employment said that being a lone father damaged their career prospects.

Just over one in 10 (11%) of lone parents are men, and 61% of them felt that society viewed them negatively. Fathers also reported that they do not have access to the same support networks as mothers.

Amanda Ball, chief executive of Gingerbread, said: "Becoming a lone father family is difficult enough. This report shows that society puts too many unnecessary barriers in their way. Lone fathers and their children deserve better".

Becoming visible: focus on lone fathers, £5.00, is published by Gingerbread, 7 Sovereign Close, Sovereign Court, London E1W 3HW; tel: 020 7488 9300; www.gingerbread.org.uk